I'm Ruth Bloom of Ruth Bloom Research.  I graduated from Reading University with a BA (Hons) in French in the 1970's.   I worked for many years in industry as a project manager and consultant, going freelance in 1994.  Some years ago I decided to retire early from this work in order to pursue my passion for genealogy.  I have been researching my own family history on and off since 2000 and providing professional research services since 2004 - further details of which can be found on my Recent Projects page.

In July 2007 I gained the Diploma in Genealogy awarded by the Institute of Heraldic and Genealogical Studies which is recognised within the profession as the foremost provider of training in genealogy. I'm listed as one of the Independent Researchers at The National Archives (TNA), and particularly enjoy research into military and naval records, as well as criminal records, land records, metropolitan police and merchant seamen.  However, because I'm familiar with TNA's catalogue and finding aids, I can turn my hand to most subjects, no matter how esoteric.  I can deal with documents from the C16th onwards, and am experienced in paleography (reading and transcribing old documents). Above all, I love the detective work involved in uncovering long-gone ancestors, and finding out more about them.  Every family has an interesting tale to tell, no matter how modest their origins or how sparse the initial information.  My own family history research has had the added bonus of putting me in touch with many far-flung  cousins around the world that I never knew I had.